Chicirda Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 I am looking to build a sled for the table saw. I plan on doing cross cuts as well as dado cuts. Should I make two different sleds? Is the dado slot in the sled too wide if/when making cross cuts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 +2 sleds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 I have seen a sled built with a drop-in center plate to use for dados or crosscuts, but I like seperate sleds better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefmagnus@grics.net Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 +1 two sleds I hang my dado sled on the wall with the insert for dados. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 I remember reading an article ... Wood magazine... maybe fine woodworking... anyway, there was a design for a sled with a replaceable insert for dados and or zero clearance blades. I think that would be slick as elephant snot, but having said that, I have 3 sleds. 1 for normal stuff, 1 for 3/4" dados, 1 for basically everything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicirda Posted October 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 Thanks guys. This helps a lot. I was also thinking of creating a box joint jig. This, I believe, can be incorporated into the dado sled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted October 30, 2014 Report Share Posted October 30, 2014 I've made many many many box joint jigs in my life. I always just make them as needed and then chuck them in a corner and sometimes reuse them. I've had "Make a quality ADJUSTABLE box joint jig" on my list of shop projects for about 5 years now.... Yeah, still haven't gotten around to that one. If you do make a sled with a box joint jig incorporated into it, please post pictures. I need the motivation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapid Roger Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Getting back to the original question. Yes, you can make ONE sled work for both regular blades and any size dado blade you want. I found plans in a magazine (WOOD magazine I think) back in 2011 for an ADJUSTABLE table saw sled so....... I made one. I don't really adjust it very often and I have a right tilt saw and the plans were for a left tilt so I had to "modify" it a bit so these pictures look different than what was in the magazine. As you can see, the long extension arm is removable and was an option in the original plans but, I do use it quite a lot when cutting longer stock. Still, I think the the answers above of making TWO sled's is probably easier and more user friendly. Rog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firehawk Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 So, in one direction it's regular kerf, and to use the adjustable dado kerf you reverse the sled on the table? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapid Roger Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 So, in one direction it's regular kerf, and to use the adjustable dado kerf you reverse the sled on the table? No, the knobs are loosened and the center panel is slid over to the left the required distance to incorporate the dado blade. At the front, the left most knob is used along with the knob on the back to get any width you might need. The two other knobs (center and right) at the front are used to hold the extension on the sled. As I said before, I've never used the feature so far. It just seemed like a good idea at the time. I just wanted to answer the question if "Can you make one sled to use both types of blades?" and the answer is..... "YES". Rog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 I can see that you haven't used the dado feature. When you do, you'll cut a notch in the fence and lose the zero clearance backup when cutting the back edge of the board. Bottom line, combination tools usually result in a compromise of each function. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted October 31, 2014 Report Share Posted October 31, 2014 No an issue in my eyes Mike. An auxiliary fence renews a chewed rail in many an old sled. This would work for your concern mentioned. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CessnaPilotBarry Posted November 1, 2014 Report Share Posted November 1, 2014 You don't have to get fancy. Simply screw some 1/4" MDF to the floor and back fence, and you're good to go. Even if you build a dedicated dado sled, you may want to use it for more than one width. Need to cut more dados, or your kerf widened? Unscrew one of the floor halves, slide it over, screw into a different area, and fill the kerf again. The side of the kerf that your arbor nut goes on is the side you'll need to move most often. The other side usually doesn't change much. I often clamp a 1/4" strip to the back fence, and just move it to a fresh area if I need fresh backing. I don't even bother with screws... This is really handy if you're cutting odd tilt angles and still need kerf support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.